Containing miscellaneous papers connected with the
county the Black Book of Kincardineshire is a rare
collection of accounts dating back to the 17th century which have never been surpassed.
I want to concentrate here on the documented criminal
trials within those pages. They are a wonderful source of names, places
and events.
Are your ancestors among those described. Dare you
look?....
6 March 1698 The which day, there being a boy
apprehended and sent prisoner to the Tolbooth by John Carnegie, at the
Mill of Conveth, whom he and his millart had apprehended in his mill
after he had broken a hole in the gable of the said mill on Friday last,
at night, and had filled his pock full of meal which he had taken out of
a sack then standing there, and whom they took with fang: And on Thurday
last, the said John Carnegie alleged he had taken some more meal that
night. Which boy being prisoner in the Tolbooth of Stonehaven, and being
called and convened before the Sheriff-Depute, and being examined in the
said matter, did acknowledge and confess, that his name was Alexander
Gill in Barrack in the parish of Newdeer, that his mother was dead. And
confessed that the said John Carnegie and his millart at the Mill of
Conveth had taken him when he had broken the said mill, and that on
Friday night he had two pecks and half of meal out of the said mill,
which he had thrown down in the trough, during the time they were
opening the doors, thinking to deny the same, and to make his escape.
And likewise confessed that, having come to Andrew Renny's house in
Strait Craigs of Garvock, a weaver there, on Wednesday last, in the
evening, and having lodged there all night, the said Andrew Renny told
him that he would get meal very easily taken out of the said mill, and
told him that a boy, John Renny, his son, had been there and taken out
some meal out of the said mill before, and desired him to go with his
son to-morrow being Thursday, and accordingly his son and he went there
on Thursday night last, and entered at the bridge-window, and both
filled their pocks full of meal out of a sack standing there, and
carried the same home to Andrew Renny's, and that the said Andrew Renny
desired him to go again and steal more on Friday night last, which he
died, and was then apprehended as above mentioned. And declared that he
cannot read nor write - and that he knew not the said mill, nor the way
to enter, till he was told of it, and the son pointed out to hime the
way he had entered before, and denies that he ever committed any other
theft. Banished the shire for ever.
17 March 1698 William Walker in Bervie, and Margaret
Scott his wife; William Walker, and Margaret Hogg there; Robert Smilth
in Mill town, and Isobell Gady his spouse; Robert Clark at Mill of
Haulkerton, and his spuse; William Milne in Hill of Haulkerton, and
Margaret Mitchell his spouse; John Robertson in Johnshaven, Christian
Williamson, James Martin there, and Margaret Craigie his spouse, were
all this date summoned to underly the law at the instance of Robert
Keith, Procurator fiscal of the County of Kincardine, for selling meal
by measure, and not by weight, as being contrary to the Act of
Parliament. Were all fined.
31 March 1698 Arthur
Robertson in Kirkside, summoned to underly the law for his violently
offering to strike Robert Glenney in Tullos, and Walter Cumming servitor
to the minister at Nigg, with a drawn dirk under cloud of night, in his
drunk humour. Dismissed from the bar, there being no evidence against
him.
31 May 1698 Alexander Cruickshank in Little Banchory,
Robert and James Cruickshank his children, summoned to underly the law,
for beating, blooding, and dragging Jane Darge, in Little Banchory,
through the gutter, and threatening to put her in the Jougs: And at
last, taking her prisoner, carrying her to the church of Banchory and
there tying her within the same, and locking her within the church,
affrighting her out of her wits. Alexander Cruickshank amertiate in the
sum of £50 Scots money for himself and his bairns, and four pound of
Ascythment modified to the party injured, and ordained to pay ilk ane of
the witnesses himsel.
8 July 1698 John Cowie in
Faskie, summoned to underly the law, for stealing, cutting, and
away-taking, under cloud of night, several young trees out of the
plantation of Faskie, belonging to the Laird of Balmain: And for
stealing a certain quantity of bear belonging to the Laird of Thornton.
Failed to appear - was declared fugitive, and all his moveable goods
declared to be escheat.
23 July 1698 William Spence
Cottar in Knock, apprehended with the fang, was incarcerated, and
confessed that he did steal a hen and three chickens in the night time
out of the henhouse of Mr James Gordon of Ardoch. Banished the shire,
and his goods escheat.
23 July 1698 Robert Moncur,
Servitor, to James Webster alias Thomson, in Gallowtoun, and the said
James, being summoned to underly the law at the instance of the Fiscal,
and Mr John Milne, Parson at Fetteresso, partly grieved, for his
interest, for stealing and away-taking of peats belonging to the Parson,
furth of the Hill of Clachensheils; and the said Robert Moncur
compearing and confessing, that he took some of the pursuer's peats, and
offering to give as many back, the Sheriff amertiated the Defenders in
five punds Scots, and ordained tem to lead to the minister's stack-hill
at his own house, four cart fulls of peats, or pay six shillings Scots
for each cartful thereof.
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